Bone graft delivery revolver

ABSTRACT

A device for loading bone graft material into a delivery tube is provided herein. The device includes a housing defining a reservoir for receiving bone graft, a magazine at least partially disposed within the housing, and an actuation member coupled to the housing for discharging the bone graft material into the delivery tube. The magazine defines a first chamber and a second chamber and is moveable between a first position in which the first chamber is in communication with the reservoir and a second position in which the second chamber is in communication with the reservoir. The actuation member includes a plunger configured to slide into the first chamber and the second chamber to discharge bone graft material, when bone graft material is contained therein, into the delivery tube. Methods of loading bone graft material are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/597,143 filed Dec. 11, 2017, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device and methods for facilitatingdelivery of materials to bone during a surgical procedure, and moreparticularly, for loading bone graft or bone graft substitute materialinto an injector for percutaneous surgical procedures.

Various surgical procedures include the delivery of bone graft or bonegraft substitute to promote bone growth between two bones or portions ofbones. For instance, bone graft is typically used in spinal fixationprocedures to aid in fixing and/or fusing vertebral bodies of the spinalcolumn, whether alone or in combination with implants, screws, and/orthe like. There is an increasing prevalence that these procedures beperformed percutaneously in a minimally invasive way, which createschallenges.

In certain surgical procedures, facet joints of the spine may be fused,at least in part, by attaining access to the joints through a portal(such as a cannula) and placing or injecting bone graft into the jointarea. For example, in one procedure, a surgeon places bone graft througha tube which is fixed to the operating room table via a flexiblefixation arm. The graft is placed onto and around the joint little bylittle through the use of forceps repeatedly being placed into thesurgical site.

This system generally involves several steps including loading adelivery tube multiple times with bone graft and continuouslyre-aligning the access portal in order to achieve sufficient placementof the bone graft. Furthermore, two hands are often required to reloadand operate the system. This results in a cumbersome delivery procedure.

To simplify the delivery process, percutaneous bone graft deliverysystems for injecting bone graft through a delivery tube to a deliverysite have been developed, and are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat.Pub. No. 2015/0112352 (“the '352 Application”) assigned to applicant andincorporated by reference in its entirety herein as if set forth fullyherein. Nevertheless, it would be desirable to provide a bone graftloading device that efficiently loads hone graft material into adelivery tube adapted to be used with a percutaneous hone graft deliveryinjector such as the device disclosed in the '352 Application.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a device forloading bone graft material into a delivery tube is provided. Thedelivery tube may be configured to be removably securable to the devicesuch that bone graft material may be loaded into the delivery tube andthen subsequently attached to a separate bone graft injector device.Alternatively, the device may operate as a stand-along bone graftinjector.

The device efficiently packs bone graft material into a plurality ofchambers and then discharges each of the plurality of chambers into thedelivery tube upon actuation of an actuation member. In one aspect ofthe invention, actuation of the actuation member both loads at least oneof the plurality of bone graft chambers and discharges a different oneof the chambers, thereby optimizing each actuation. Other preferredembodiments, as discussed hereinafter, ensure efficiency by allowingeach of the plurality of chambers to sufficiently fill beforedischarging.

One embodiment of the device includes a housing defining a reservoir forreceiving bone graft, a magazine at least partially disposed within thehousing, and an actuation member coupled to the housing for dischargingthe bone graft material into the delivery tube. The magazine defines afirst chamber and a second chamber and is moveable between a firstposition in which the first chamber is in communication with thereservoir and a second position in which the second chamber is incommunication with the reservoir. The actuation member includes aplunger configured to slide into at least one of the first chamber andthe second chamber to discharge bone graft material, when bone graftmaterial is contained therein, into the delivery tube.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuation member is coupled to thehousing and includes a plurality of y-shaped tracks for cooperating witha pin provided on the magazine. This configuration causes the magazineto rotate about its longitudinal axis, and relative to the housing fromthe first position to the second position, upon actuation of theactuation member. In one particular aspect, actuation of the actuationmember rotates the magazine from the first position to the secondposition. The actuation member includes an ergonomically shaped pushbutton for comfort and efficiency

The magazine may include at least three chambers, each of which isbrought into communication with the reservoir at least once during arevolution of the magazine to receive bone graft material containedwithin the reservoir. In some instances, at least two chambers of the atleast three chambers are brought into communication with the reservoiras the magazine is rotated from the first position to the secondposition. In this configuration, where the magazine includes “n” numberof chambers the magazine is preferably configured to rotate such thatthe plunger discharges each of the chambers one time during “n” numberof actuations to ensure that each chamber is completely discharged.

In one aspect, the device is configured to be a stand-alone bone-graftinjector. In an alternative aspect, the delivery tube is removable fromthe housing and configured to be attached to a separate bone graftinjector device after it has been loaded.

The housing may further include a chimney for funneling the bone graftmaterial contained in the reservoir to a bottom of the reservoir, and/ora ratcheting gear.

In another embodiment, the device includes a housing defining areservoir for receiving bone graft material therein and a magazine atleast partially disposed within the housing. The magazine defines afirst chamber and a second chamber and is rotatable about a longitudinalaxis of the magazine and relative to the housing between a firstposition in which the first chamber is in communication with thereservoir and the second chamber is isolated from the reservoir, and asecond position in which the second chamber is in communication with thereservoir and the first chamber is isolated from the reservoir. Thedevice being configured to load bone graft material into the firstchamber and the second chamber when each of the first chamber and thesecond chamber are in communication with the reservoir.

The device may further include an actuation member that causes themagazine to rotate from the first position to the second position uponactuation thereof. The actuation member includes a plunger that slidesinto at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber uponactuation of the actuation member for discharging bone graft materialcontained therein.

Also provided herein is a method for loading bone graft material into adelivery tube. The method includes loading bone graft material into areservoir defined in a housing, rotating a magazine about a longitudinalaxis of the magazine and relative to the housing, between a firstposition and a second position, and actuating an actuation membercoupled to the housing. The magazine defines a first chamber and asecond chamber such that the first chamber is in communication with thereservoir in the first position and the second chamber is incommunication with the reservoir in the second position. The actuationmember includes a plunger configured to slide into at least one of thefirst chamber and the second chamber for discharging bone graftmaterial, when bone graft material is contained therein, into thedelivery tube. In one aspect, actuation of the actuation member rotatesthe magazine from the first position to the second position.

The delivery tube may optionally be removed from the housing, after ithas been loaded, and attached to a separate bone graft injector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bone graft delivery device accordingto an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is exploded view of the bone graft device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rearwardly facing, cross-section view of the bone graftdelivery device of FIG. 1 taken along line A-A;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are front and topwardly facing perspective views,respectively, of a delivery tube of the bone graft delivery device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a housing including a packing member ofthe bone graft delivery device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B is a rearwardly facing perspective view of the housing of FIG.5A, without the packing member;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a magazine of the bone graft deliverydevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an actuation member of the bone graft deliverydevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8A is a schematic representation depicting sequential dischargmentof the chambers of the magazine of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8B is a schematic representation of an exemplary, non-sequentialdischargment of the chambers of the magazine of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8C is a schematic representation of an exemplary non-sequentialdischargment of the chambers of an alternative magazine;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bone graft delivery device accordingto another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the bone graft delivery device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a housing of the bone graft deliverydevice of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a magazine of the bone graft deliverydevice of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a ratcheting gear of the bone graftdelivery device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a perspective exploded view of a bone graft delivery deviceaccording to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15A is a perspective partially exploded view of the bone graftdelivery device of FIG. 14;

FIG. 15B is a cross section view of FIG. 15A taken along line B-B;

FIG. 15C is a cross section view of FIG. 15A taken along line C-C;

FIG. 16A is a distally facing perspective view of a housing of the bonegraft delivery device of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16B is a proximally facing perspective cross-section view of thehousing of FIG. 16A taken along line D-D;

FIG. 16C is a proximally facing perspective cross-section view of thehousing of FIG. 16A taken along line D-D with a magazine and actuationmembers contained within in the housing; and

FIG. 16D is a wire framed perspective view of the housing of FIG. 16A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, “axial” means along or parallel to the longitudinal axisof the magazine of the bone graft delivery device and “radial” means inthe perpendicular direction thereto. “Rotation” refers to rotation aboutthe longitudinal axis, unless otherwise described. “Interior” meansradially inward, either toward or facing the longitudinal axis, and“exterior” means radially outward, or away from the longitudinal axis.The terms “proximal” and “distal”, respectively, mean the end of thedevice nearest the surgeon or other user operating the device and theopposite end of the device furthest from the user operating the device.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a device 100 for optimizing the loading of bonegraft material into a delivery tube configured to be attached to a bonegraft injector device. The term “bone graft” refers generally to bonegraft, bone graft alternative, bone graft substitute, bone marrowaspirate, or mixtures thereof, whether occurring naturally orartificially. In one embodiment, the device 100 includes a housing 102,a magazine 104, an actuation member 106, a biasing member 108, and adelivery tube 110.

Delivery tube 110, or cannula, is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 4A and4B. Cannula 110 generally includes a hollow cylindrical body 112, havinga bore 114 extending therethrough, a base 116 provided at a proximal end118 of body 112, optionally having a retaining mechanism 120 providedthereon, a delivery or distal end 12:2 opposite the proximal end 118,and a cap 124 adapted to close delivery end 122. Base 116 is cylindricaland has a larger diameter than body 112. One or more retaining mechanism120 may optionally be provided on base 116 for removably securingcannula 110 to housing 102. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, retainingmechanism 120 includes two diametrically opposed slots extendingdistally from a proximal end of base 116 configured to engage withdiametrically opposed retaining tabs (not shown) provided on housing 102for locking cannula 110 to housing 102. Alternatively, cannula 110 maybe integrally formed with housing 102 or be secured to housing 102 usingany suitable alternative securement mechanism, including for example, afriction fit, a cam lock, and/or threading.

Delivery or distal end 122 of body 112 may be an uninterrupted hollowcylinder, or, an interrupted hollow cylinder, as illustrated in FIGS. 4Aand 4B. For example, delivery end 122 includes an off-axis exit portionhaving a generally “U” shaped portion cut out about a circumference ofbody 112. This configuration is useful in facilitating off-axisexpulsion of the bone graft material through cannula 110. During loadingof bone graft material and/or prior to use of device 100, cap 124 may befit over distal end 122 for closing the same. Preferably, cannula body112 is formed from a disposable biocompatible plastic that is preferablytranslucent or transparent, to allow a user to at least partially seebone graft material being loaded into and passing through cannula 110.Cannula body 112 preferably also includes indicia (not shown), such aslaser markings, for indicating a volume of bone graft material disposedtherein. Alternatively, cannula body 112 may be formed of a metalsuitable for surgery.

Housing 102, shown in detail in FIGS. 5A and 5B, may be any3-dimensional shape having an outer surface 126 and an inner surface 128defining an interior cavity C sized and shaped to receive at least aportion of magazine 104, actuation member 106, and biasing member 108.In aspects of the invention where cannula 110 is removeably connectableto housing 102 (e.g., not integrally formed therewith), a recess 130 isdefined in a top surface 132 of housing 102 for receiving base 116 andoptionally a proximal portion of cannula body 112 as shown in FIG. 1.Recess 130 extends from a distal end wall 134 of housing 102 to a recessend wall 136 provided at a location between distal end wall 134 ofhousing 102 and a proximal end wall 138 of housing 102. Correspondingretaining mechanisms (not shown) may be provided within recess 130 forcooperating with base 116 and/or retaining mechanism 120 for removeablysecuring cannula 110 to housing 102 as previously described.

Proximal end wall 138 of housing 102 defines a plunger aperture 140 andan actuation barrel aperture 142 spaced a distance apart from oneanother and configured to respectively receive portions of actuationmember 106, as is described in further detail hereinafter. Actuationbarrel aperture 142 extends through proximal end wall 138 and intocavity C of housing 102.

Plunger aperture 140 is axially aligned with recess 130 such thatplunger aperture 140 extends continuously through outer surface 126 ofproximal end wall 138 and through recess end wall 136 to form a loadingchannel 139 for loading the bone graft material into cannula 110.Loading channel 139 preferably has a diameter equal to or less than adiameter of bore 114, defined in cannula body 112, such that bone graftmaterial is not squeezed through a condensed diameter during the loadingprocess which may cause dehydration of the bone graft material.

Housing 102 also defines a reservoir 144 for receiving bone graftmaterial therein. Reservoir 144 extends through top surface 132 andempty into cavity C of housing 102. The walls of reservoir 144 may beangled or slopped so as to funnel bone graft material toward the cavityC. In one embodiment, as illustrated by FIG. 5B, the reservoir 144 ispositioned adjacent proximal end wall 138 and be axially offset fromloading channel 139. A packing member 146, having a packing endincluding an arcuate cut-out, may be inserted into reservoir 144 foraiding gravity in pushing bone graft material into reservoir 144 andtoward magazine 104 as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, magazine 104 is be generally wheel shaped,and thus, is referred to interchangeably hereinafter as bone graftwheel. Graft wheel 104 includes a longitudinal axis L, an outercircumferential wall 148, an inner circumferential wall 150, and aplurality of bone graft chambers 152, circumferentially provided aboutlongitudinal axis L. Each of the bone graft chambers 152 extendscompletely through bone graft wheel 104 from a proximal end wall 154 toa distal end wall 156 thereof and is preferably provided adjacent anouter perimeter 160 of bone graft wheel 104 such that a channel 158 isformed through outer circumferential wall 148.

With specific reference to FIG. 3, graft wheel 104 is at least partiallydisposed within housing 102 such that movement of graft wheel 104 (e.g.,rotational movement) will bring each of the chambers 152 into alignmentwith reservoir 144 allowing bone graft material to be transferred fromreservoir 144, through channels 158, and into each of the plurality ofchambers 152. As the bone graft wheel 104 rotates, each of the bonegraft chambers 152 will be in communication with the reservoir 144 atleast once during a single revolution of the bone graft wheel 104.During rotation, each of the chambers 252 will also be brought intoproper loading alignment, meaning each of the chambers 252 will taketurns being positioned within the loading channel 139 (the chamberpositioned within loading channel 139 is hereinafter referenced by152′).

An inwardly extending pin 162 is provided on inner circumferential wall150 of bone graft wheel 104 for cooperating with actuation member 106 torotate graft wheel 104, as is further explained below. Although themagazine illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 8A, and 8B depicts eight bonegraft chambers, it is explicitly understood that that the bone graftwheel 104 may encompass any number of a plurality of chambers, forexample, twelve chambers as shown in FIG. 8C.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of actuation member 106.Actuation member 106 generally defines an actuation plate 164 having aplunger 166 and an actuation barrel 168 extending distally therefrom.The actuation plunger 166 and actuation barrel 168 are sized and shapedto extend through plunger aperture 140 (and into loading channel 139)and actuation barrel aperture 142, respectively. In a preferredembodiment, a rear surface of actuation plate 164 includes anergonomically shaped push-button 170 such that a user can repeatedly andcomfortably actuate actuation member 106 using only his or her thumb.

Actuation barrel 168 includes a plurality of y-shaped tracks 172 definedin an outer circumferential wall thereof. Each of the y-shaped tracks172 is sized and shaped to receive pin 162 and includes a first portion174, a second portion 176, and a stem portion 178, which intersect atintersection 180. As is illustrated in FIG. 7, stem portion 178 extendsaxially along the circumferential wall of actuation barrel 168, whilefirst portion 174 and second portion 176 are angularly offset thereto.

Referring back to FIG. 2, biasing member 108, which may be a spring suchas a helical spring, is provided between actuation member 106 andhousing 102 coupling the same. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, when a userpresses button 170, actuation plate 164 moves distally toward proximalend wall 138 of housing 102 and pin 162 rides from a distal end of firstportion 174 of y-shaped track 172 toward intersection 180. The axialangle of first portion 174 causes the graft wheel 104 to rotate aboutits longitudinal axis L, for example, in a counter-clockwise directionuntil pin 162 reaches intersection 180. When pin 162 enters stem portion178 of y-shaped track 172, graft wheel 104 dwells as the plunger 166extends through the plunger barrel aperture 140 and the bone graftchamber 152′ aligned therewith, thereby forcing bone graft materialdisposed in aligned bone graft chamber 152′ through loading channel 139and into bore 114 of cannula body 112.

After push-button 170 is released, actuation member 106 is biased awayfrom housing 102 such that pin 162 rides from a proximal portion of stem178 toward intersection 180. Due to the angle at which first portion 174and second portion 176 branch from stem 178, pin 162 automaticallyenters second portion 176 of y-shaped track 172 when pin 162 travels ina proximal-distal direction. When pin 162 enters second portion 176,bone graft wheel 104 further rotates, for example, in thecounter-clockwise direction. It is understood that by manipulating thenumber of y-shaped tracks and/or the angle at which first portion 174and second portion 176 branch from stem 178, the direction and/or degreeof rotation per-actuation of the actuation member 106 can be altered.

As graft wheel 104 rotates, each of the plurality of bone graft chambers152 are brought into communication with reservoir 144 at least onceduring a single revolution of graft wheel 104.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality ofbone graft chambers 152 is filled and discharged in sequential order.For example, each of the plurality of the chambers 152 are filled asthey are brought into communication with reservoir 144 and subsequentlydischarged as bone graft wheel 104 is rotated one position at a time, asis shown in FIG. 8A, schematically depicting the order in which thechambers are discharged.

Alternatively, in a preferred embodiment, bone graft wheel 104 may berotated a plurality of chambers per actuation such that at least one ofthe bone graft chambers 152 is skipped over (i.e. not discharged byplunger 166) per actuation of actuation member 106. In thisconfiguration, each of bone graft chambers 152 experience multiplerevolutions before being discharged. Since each of the chamber 152 arebrought into communication with reservoir 144 a plurality of times priorto having bone graft material discharged therefrom, the chambers 152each have multiple chances to collect bone graft material, therebyincreasing the likelihood that each of the chambers 152 will besufficiently filled with bone graft material before being discharged. Inthis embodiment, it is preferred that the number of y-tracks provided isnot a multiple of the number of bone graft chambers so as to ensure thatall of the chambers will eventually be discharged. As is schematicallyrepresented by FIGS. 8B and 8C, in a preferred embodiment, device 100can be optimized by choosing a number of y-tracks “n-y” relative to anumber of bone graft chambers “n-c”, such that each of the chambers 152will be discharged once per a number of actuations “n-a”, where thenumber of actuations “n-a” is equal to the number of chambers “n-c”.

To use device 100, a user, such as a surgeon, first secures cannula 110to housing 102 (if cannula 110 is not integrally formed therewith), asdescribed above, and loads bone graft material into reservoir 144defined in housing 102. Optionally, using packing member 146, the usermay lightly pack the bone graft material, so as to avoid dehydrating it,toward a bottom of reservoir 144 and outer circumferential wall 148 ofbone graft wheel 104.

Using his or her thumb, a user then presses push-button 170, causingactuation member 106 to move distally with respect to housing 102 andpin 162 to cooperate with y-shaped track 172. As previously detailed, aspin 162 slides along y-shaped track 172, bone graft wheel 104 is forcedto rotate about its longitudinal axis L. Rotation of bone graft wheel104 brings each of the plurality of chambers 152 into communication withreservoir 144, at least once per rotation, such that bone graft materialis transferred from reservoir 144 to each of the bone graft chambers152. Moreover, each actuation or compression of actuation member 106also forces plunger 166 to slide through plunger aperture 140, and bonegraft chamber 152′ aligned therewith, forcing bone graft materialcontained therein into bore 114 of cannula body 112. The user mayrapidly and continually actuate the device 100 until cannula 110 hasbeen fully packed. After cannula 110 has been packed, it may be detachedfrom housing 102 and secured to another bone graft injector for useduring a percutaneous surgical procedure. Alternatively, after cap 124is removed the device 100 may be continually actuated to discharge bonegraft material from delivery end 122 of cannula 110.

The above described device 100 efficiently packs bone graft materialinto cannula 110 as each actuation member loads at least one of theplurality of bone graft chambers 152 and discharges a different one ofthe chambers 152, thereby optimizing each actuation. Moreover, thepreferred embodiment, illustrated by FIGS. 8B and 8C, further ensuresefficiency by allowing each of the plurality of chambers 152 tosufficiently fill before it is discharged.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of the invention foroptimizing loading of bone graft material into a tube. In thisembodiment, device 200 is configured to efficiently load delivery tubessized and configured to be attached to other bone graft injectordevices. The device 200 generally includes a housing 202, a magazine204, a lid 206, a ratcheting gear 208, and a delivery tube 210.

The delivery tube 210, or cannula, is substantially similar to cannula110, shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, except as described hereinafter. Cannula210 includes a retaining mechanism 220, which may be a helical thread ora cam-lock, such that cannula 210 is removably secured to housing 202via a twisting force. However, it is understood that other knownretaining mechanisms, such as interlocking tabs and or a friction fit,may additionally and/or alternatively be used.

FIGS. 9-11 illustrate housing 202 in detail. Housing 202 may be any3-dimensional shape having an outer surface 226 and an inner surface 228defining an interior cavity C′ sized and shaped to receive magazine 204,ratcheting gear 208, and at least a portion of lid 206, for retainingmagazine 204 and ratcheting gear 208 therein. Cavity C′ includes acircular track 230 configured to receive a portion of magazine 204. Thecircular track 230 has at least one locking member 232 provided thereon.The locking member 232 includes a hemispherical portion extendinginwardly from track 230 for interacting with magazine 204 as isdescribed in detail hereinafter. The at least one locking member orhemispherical member 232 may be formed of silicon, rubber, or otherresiliently compressible material. Alternatively, the hemisphericalmember 232 may be moveably secured to track 230 such that lockingmembers 232 moves radially toward and radially away from track 230.

A distal wall 234 of housing 202 defines an aperture 236 about which aretaining mechanism having a corresponding feature to retainingmechanism 220 is provided for removably securing cannula 210 to housing202. The aperture 236 extends from outer surface 226 into cavity C′ andforms a loading channel 239 for loading the bone graft material intocannula 210 (FIGS. 4A and 4B). Proximal end 238 of housing 202 may besubstantially open and include an edge 240 for securing lid 206, forexample, via a friction fit. Distal wall 237 also defines an aperture237 through which a hex key (not shown), for example, may be inserted torotate magazine 204 as is described in further detail hereinafter.

Housing 202 also defines a reservoir 244 for receiving bone graftmaterial therein. In one particular embodiment, the reservoir 244 isdefined by a chimney 245 extending through a top surface of housing 202and emptying into cavity C′, and more particularly, adjacent track 230.With specific reference to FIG. 10, a packing member 246, which includesa packing end having an arcuate cut-out, may be inserted into reservoir244 for lightly packing bone graft material toward a bottom of reservoir244 and toward magazine 204.

As is shown in FIG. 12, magazine 204, also referred to as bone graftwheel, is substantially similar to bone graft wheel 104, but for thedifferences discussed below. For example, bone graft wheel 204 includesbarrel 262 provided on a distal end 256 thereof. Barrel 262 defines aplurality of ball-like detents 260 circumferentially defined in an outersurface of barrel 262 that preferably correspond in number and angulardisposition to bone graft chambers 252. Accordingly, as is furtherdescribed below, the device 200 may quickly be brought into properloading alignment by rotating bone graft wheel 204 until hemisphericalmembers 232 are received by detents 260 temporarily locking bone graftwheel 204 in place. As used herein, proper loading alignment means atleast one of the bone graft chambers 252 is positioned within theloading channel 239 (chamber aligned within loading channel 239 beingreferenced by 252′). After the aligned chamber 252′ has been discharged,a rotational force may again be applied to bone graft wheel 204 causingthe hemispherical member 232 to temporarily compress and allowing thebone graft wheel 204 to rotate to its next position, where hemisphericalmember 232 is received in an adjacent detent 260 and an adjacent bonegraft chamber 252, in the direction of rotation, is positioned withinloading channel 239.

Proximal end 254 of bone graft wheel 204 includes a plurality of angledslats 263 for coacting with ratcheting gear 208 (shown in FIG. 13), andmore particularly, with corresponding slates 265 provided at a distalend of ratcheting gear 208, to ensure that bone graft wheel 204 onlyrotates in a single direction, for example, counter-clockwise.

As is shown in FIG. 9, a lid 206 closing open proximal end 238 ofhousing 202 may be snapped or friction fit thereto. Lid 206 ispreferably transparent, to allow a user to visualize the innercomponents of device 200 including rotation of bone graft wheel 204.

In one embodiment, lid 206 is integrated with an actuation member 266,which may be, for example, a spring loaded plunger. Alternatively, lid206 defines an aperture through which actuation member 266 extends. Lid206 is shaped to engage edge 240 such that a distal or discharging end268 of actuation member 266 is automatically, axially aligned withloading channel 239 and is positioned adjacent discharging or alignedbone graft chamber 252′.

To use device 200, a user, such as a surgeon, snaps or friction fits lid206 to housing 202, inserts cannula 210 within aperture 236, and loadsbone graft material into reservoir 244, as described above. Optionally,using packing member 246, the user may lightly pack the bone graftmaterial, so as to avoid dehydrating it, toward a bottom of reservoir244 adjacent bone graft wheel 204.

The user then rotates bone graft wheel 204, using a hex key or otherdevice, from a first position to a second position, which preferably maybe at least one full revolution to bring the reservoir 244 intocommunication with each of the bone graft chambers 252 and to load bonegraft material therein. Alternatively, bone graft wheel 204 may berotated from a first position to a second position, where the secondposition is less than one full revolution from the first position. Aftera sufficient amount of bone graft material has been loaded into each ofthe chambers 252, a user depresses the spring loaded plunger 266,causing a discharging end 268 thereof to slide through dischargingchannel 252′ and force bone graft material contained therein into bore214 of cannula body 212. After the bone graft material has beendischarged, the user releases the actuation member 266 and dischargingend 268 of the spring loaded plunger is biased in a proximal directionout of discharging chamber 252′. The surgeon may then quickly dischargeanother chamber by rotating bone graft wheel 204 until hemisphericalmember 232 is received by an adjacent detent 260 temporarily lockingbone graft wheel 204 in a new discharging position such that an adjacentbone graft chamber 252 is aligned within the loading channel 239 fordischarging. This procedure may be repeated until all of the chambershave been discharged or the cannula 210 has been fully packed. Aftercannula 210 has been packed, it may be detached from housing 202 andsecured to another bone graft injector for use during a percutaneoussurgical procedure.

FIGS. 14-15C illustrate another embodiment of the invention foroptimizing loading of bone graft material into a tube. In thisembodiment, device 300 efficiently loads and discharges bone graftmaterial into the tube using only a rotary movement. The device 300includes a housing 302, a magazine 304, a plurality of actuation members306, a plurality of biasing members 308, a cover 309, a delivery tube310, and a handle 311.

Delivery tube 310, or cannula, is substantially similar to cannula 210(FIGS. 4A and 4B) and may be removably securable to housing 302 asdescribed above.

FIGS. 1.6A-1.6D illustrate housing 302, which may be any 3-dimensionalshape having an outer surface 326 and an inner surface 328 defining aninterior cavity C″ sized and shaped to receive magazine 304, pluralityof actuation members 306, plurality of biasing members 308, and at leasta portion of cover 309. A distal wall 334 of housing 302 defines anaperture 336 through which cannula 310 may be inserted and secured aspreviously described. The aperture 336 extends from outer surface 326into cavity C″ and forms a loading channel 339 for loading the bonegraft material into cannula 310. Proximal end 338 of housing 302 issubstantially open for receiving and securing cover 309, for example,via a friction fit.

Cavity C″ includes a track 330 configured to receive magazine 304 andallow rotation of magazine 304 therearound. A ledge 340 encircles track330 and includes a first portion 341, a second portion 342, and anintermediate portion 343 positioned between first portion 341 and secondportion 342. Intermediate portion 343 is angularly aligned with loadingchannel 341, with respect to a longitudinal axis of housing 302. Firstportion 341 is spaced a greater distance from distal wall 334 thansecond portion 342 such that bone graft is automatically discharged asactuation members 306 transition from first portion 341 to secondportion 342, as is further explained hereinafter.

Housing 302 also defines a reservoir 344 for receiving bone graftmaterial. In this embodiment, the reservoir 344 is defined by a chimney345 extending through a top surface of housing 302 and emptying intocavity C″, and more particularly, adjacent track 330 at a location thatis angularly spaced from intermediate portion 343. Packing member 346 issubstantially similar to packing member 246 and may be used for packingbone graft material into reservoir 344. Magazine 304, or bone graftwheel, is substantially similar to bone graft wheel 204, but mayadditionally include a proximally facing threaded member 362 extendingalong a longitudinal axis thereof for threadably engaging with handle311 to facilitate rotation of the magazine 304.

Device 300 preferably includes an actuation member 306 and a biasingmember 308, in the form of a helical spring, for each of the pluralityof chambers 352. Each of the actuation members 306 being coupled tomagazine 304 and configured to rotate therewith. When device 300 isassembled, as shown in FIG. 16D (magazine 304 removed for clarity), eachof the helical springs 308 are provided between cover 309 and acorresponding actuation member 306. With reference to FIG. 16C,actuation members 306 include a plunger 366 for sliding into itscorresponding chamber 352 and discharging bone graft material and aretaining portion 368, or cam-follower, for engaging with a slot 370defined in cover 309 and cooperating with ledge 340. Prior to discharge,cam-follower 368 is positioned on first portion 341 of ledge 340 and itscorresponding helical spring 308 is in a compressed state. As magazine304 is rotated, cam-follower 368 is rotated about ledge 340. Uponreaching intermediate portion 343, cam-follower 368 shifts from firstportion 341 to second portion 342, such that helical spring 308 expandsand biases plunger 366 into its corresponding chamber 352 fordischarging bone graft material from its corresponding dischargingchamber into loading channel 239.

To use device 300, a user, loads bone graft material into reservoir 344.Optionally, the user may lightly pack the bone graft material, so as toavoid dehydrating it, toward a bottom of reservoir 344 adjacent bonegraft wheel 304 using packing member 346. By twisting handle 311, theuser rotates the magazine 304 from a first position to a second positionand in the process brings one or more chambers 352 into communicationwith the reservoir 344, thereby loading bone graft material into each ofthese chambers 352.

As the user continues to rotate magazine 304, cam-follower 368 ridealong first portion 341 of ledge 340 until plunger 366 transitions tosecond portion 342 at which point helical spring 308 expands and forcesplunger 366 to slide into its corresponding discharging chamber anddischarge the bone graft contained therein through loading channel 339and into cannula 310.

The above described device 300 efficiently packs bone graft materialinto cannula 310 as a single rotary motion loads one chamber andsimultaneously discharges a different chamber.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for loading bone graft materialinto a delivery tube comprising: a housing defining a reservoir forreceiving and temporarily storing bone graft material; a magazine atleast partially disposed within the housing, the magazine defining afirst chamber and a second chamber and being rotatable relative to thereservoir between a first position in which the first chamber is incommunication with the reservoir to dispense bone graft material fromthe reservoir into the first chamber and a second position in which thesecond chamber is in communication with the reservoir to dispense bonegraft material from the reservoir into the second chamber; and anactuation member coupled to the housing and having a plunger configuredto slide into the first chamber and the second chamber for dischargingbone graft material from the first and second chambers into a deliverytube.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the magazine is rotatablerelative to the housing about a longitudinal axis of the magazine. 3.The device of claim 1, wherein the actuation member comprises aplurality of y-shaped tracks.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein themagazine comprises a pin configured to cooperate with the plurality ofy-shaped tracks for rotating the magazine relative to the housing. 5.The device of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member coupling thehousing and the actuation member.
 6. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising a delivery tube removably connectable to the housing andconfigured to be connected to a separate bone graft injector.
 7. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the actuation member comprises a push button.8. The device of claim 1, wherein actuation of the actuation membermoves the magazine from the first position to the second position. 9.The device of claim 2, wherein the magazine defines at least threechambers and each of the at least three chambers are in communicationwith the reservoir at least once during a full revolution of themagazine.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein each of the at least threechambers are configured to receive bone graft material when bone graftmaterial is contained within the reservoir and each of the at leastthree chambers are in communication with the reservoir.
 11. The deviceof claim 10, wherein actuation of the actuation member rotates themagazine from the first position to the second position and wherein atleast two chambers of the at least three chambers are brought intocommunication with the reservoir as the magazine is rotated from thefirst position and the second position.
 12. The device of claim 11,wherein the magazine comprises “n” number of chambers and wherein theplunger discharges each of the chambers one time during “n” number ofactuations, and wherein “n” is equal to or greater than
 3. 13. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a chimney forfunneling the bone graft material contained in the reservoir to a bottomof the reservoir.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing furthercomprises a ratcheting gear.
 15. A device for loading bone graftmaterial comprising: a housing defining a reservoir for receiving andtemporarily storing bone graft material therein; and a magazine at leastpartially disposed within the housing, the magazine defining a firstchamber and a second chamber, the magazine being rotatable about alongitudinal axis of the magazine and relative to the reservoir betweena first position in which the first chamber is in communication with thereservoir and the second chamber is isolated from the reservoir and asecond position in which the second chamber is in communication with thereservoir and the first chamber is isolated from the reservoir, whereinbone graft material is configured to be dispensed from the reservoir andloaded into the first chamber and the second chamber when each of thefirst chamber and the second chamber are in communication with thereservoir.
 16. The device of claim 15, further comprising an actuationmember and wherein actuation of the actuation member rotates themagazine from the first position to the second position.
 17. The deviceof claim 16, wherein the actuation member comprises a plunger andwherein the plunger slides into at least one of the first chamber andthe second chamber upon actuation of the actuation member fordischarging bone graft material contained therein.
 18. A method forloading bone graft material into a delivery tube comprising: loadingbone graft material into a reservoir defined in a housing; rotating amagazine at least partially disposed within the housing and defining afirst chamber and a second chamber about a longitudinal axis of themagazine relative to the reservoir between a first position in which thefirst chamber is in communication with the reservoir to dispense bonegraft material stored within the reservoir into the first chamber and asecond position in which the second chamber is in communication with thereservoir to dispense bone graft material stored within the reservoirinto the second chamber; actuating an actuation member coupled to thehousing to slide a plunger into at least one of the first chamber andthe second chamber to discharge bone graft material into a delivery tubeconnected to the housing.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprisingdetaching the delivery tube from the housing and attaching the deliverytube to a separate bone graft injector.
 20. The method of claim 18,wherein actuation of the actuation member rotates the magazine from thefirst position to the second position.